# 1946 Cincinnati Bearcats football team

The 1946 Cincinnati Bearcats football team was an American football team that represented the University of Cincinnati in the Mid-America Conference (MAC) during the 1946 college football season. In their second year under head coach Ray Nolting, the Bearcats compiled a 9–2 record, outscored opponents by a total of 221 to 93, and won the MAC championship. Their regular season highlights included victories over major college powers including Indiana (ranked No. 20 in the final AP poll), Kentucky (coached by Bear Bryant), and Michigan State.
Cincinnati closed its season with a victory over Virginia Tech, 18–6, in the Sun Bowl. The team tallied 276 rushing yards in the Sun Bowl while holding Virginia Tech to only 35 rushing yards. Hal Johnson, Al Sabato, and Don McMillan scored Cincinnati touchdowns.
Roger Stephens led the Bearcats and ranked sixth nationally with 774 rushing yards and led the nation with an average of 7.66 yards per carry.
Cincinnati was ranked at No. 42 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 21 | at Indiana* | Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN | W 15–6 | 15,000 |
| September 28 | Kentucky* | Nippert StadiumCincinnati, OH | L 7–26 | 27,000 |
| October 5 | Marshall* | Nippert StadiumCincinnati, OH | W 39–14 | 20,000 |
| October 12 | at Dayton* | Dayton StadiumDayton, OH | W 19–0 | 10,000 |
| October 19 | Ohio | Nippert StadiumCincinnati, OH | W 19–0 | 25,000 |
| October 26 | at Michigan State* | Macklin FieldEast Lansing, MI | W 18–7 | 22,524 |
| November 2 | at Tulsa* | Skelly StadiumTulsa, OK | L 0–20 | 10,000 |
| November 9 | Xavier* | Nippert StadiumCincinnati, OH (rivalry) | W 39–0 | 17,000 |
| November 16 | Western Reserve | Nippert StadiumCincinnati, OH | W 34–7 | 7,500 |
| November 28 | Miami (OH)* | Nippert StadiumCincinnati, OH (Victory Bell) | W 13–7 | 28,000 |
| January 1, 1947 | vs. VPI* | Kidd FieldEl Paso, TX (Sun Bowl) | W 18–6 | 10,000-11,000 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecoming ||||||

## Players

* Bert Bauer, center, 208 pounds
* Tom Blake, guard/linebacker, No. 50, 200 pounds
* Jim Dougherty, halfback, No. 13
* Bob Fenlon, guard, No. 22, 220 pounds
* Ollie Freese, halfback
* Mike Graham, fullback
* Stan Klimczak, end, freshman, 188 pounds
* Dick Langenbeck, tackle, No. 38, 225 pounds
* Don McMillan, quarterback, No. 15, 175 pounds
* Elbie Nickel, captain and end, No. 33, 200 pounds
* Tom O'Malley, quarterback
* Fred Redeker, fullback, No. 31, 220 pounds
* Alkie Richards, halfback, No. 21, 178 pounds
* Al Sabato, linebacker
* Floyd Shorts, center, No. 41
* Bill Smyth, tackle, No. 49, 220 pounds
* Wille Stargel, end
* "Racing" Roger Stephens, halfback, No. 23, 183 pounds
* Max Wharton, end, No. 51, 210 pounds

## After the season

The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Bearcats were selected.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 6 | 42 | Roger Stephens | Back | Chicago Bears |
| 17 | 149 | Elbie Nickel | End | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 25 | 232 | Fred Redeker | Back | Green Bay Packers |
| 29 | 272 | Dick Langenbeck | Tackle | Philadelphia Eagles |